Cannabis-based medicines showed subjective improvement in MS spasticity despite mixed results on clinical scales
A review found cannabis-based medicinal extracts (CBMEs) improved patient-reported spasticity in multiple sclerosis, though objective measures like the Ashworth scale often showed no significant effect.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
The review examined clinical trial evidence for cannabis-based medicinal extracts (CBMEs) in treating spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis (MS).
Patients consistently reported subjective improvement in spasticity when using CBMEs. However, objective measurements using the Ashworth scale (a clinical rating of muscle resistance) generally showed no significant effect. The authors noted that the validity of the Ashworth scale itself had been questioned.
Side effects were generally mild, including dry mouth, dizziness, drowsiness, nausea, and intoxication. Most clinical trials ran for only months, and long-term safety data were limited.
The review flagged particular caution for adolescents, people predisposed to psychosis, and pregnant women.
Key Numbers
Mild adverse effects reported: dry mouth, dizziness, somnolence, nausea, intoxication. Most trials ran for months. Ashworth scale generally showed no significant effect despite patient-reported improvement.
How They Did This
Narrative review of clinical trial data examining cannabis-based medicinal extracts for MS-related spasticity, published in Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management.
Why This Research Matters
The disconnect between patient-reported improvement and objective clinical measures highlighted a challenge in evaluating cannabis-based medicines and raised questions about which outcome measures best capture treatment benefits.
The Bigger Picture
This review contributed to the evidence base that led to cannabis-based medicines being approved for MS spasticity in several countries, despite the measurement challenges.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Narrative review without systematic methodology. Reliance on subjective outcomes. Limited long-term safety data. The Ashworth scale limitations make it difficult to assess true objective efficacy.
Questions This Raises
- ?What is the best way to objectively measure spasticity improvement?
- ?Would longer-term trials reveal additional benefits or risks of CBMEs?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Subjective improvement reported despite mixed objective measurements
- Evidence Grade:
- Narrative review synthesizing clinical trial data with acknowledged limitations in outcome measurement.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2010. Nabiximols (Sativex) has since been approved in multiple countries for MS spasticity.
- Original Title:
- New approaches in the management of spasticity in multiple sclerosis patients: role of cannabinoids.
- Published In:
- Therapeutics and clinical risk management, 6, 59-63 (2010)
- Authors:
- Smith, Paul F(5)
- Database ID:
- RTHC-00453
Evidence Hierarchy
Summarizes existing research on a topic.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Do cannabis medicines help with MS muscle stiffness?
Patients consistently reported improvement in spasticity, but clinical rating scales often showed no significant objective change. The mismatch may reflect limitations of the measurement tools rather than lack of true benefit.
What are the side effects of cannabis-based MS treatments?
The review found mostly mild side effects: dry mouth, dizziness, drowsiness, nausea, and intoxication. Long-term safety data beyond a few months were limited.
Read More on RethinkTHC
- CBD-oil-quality-guide
- anxiety-medication-after-quitting-weed
- cannabis-chemotherapy-nausea
- cannabis-chronic-pain-research
- cannabis-epilepsy-CBD-Epidiolex
- cbd-anxiety-research-evidence
- cbd-for-weed-withdrawal
- cbd-vs-thc-difference
- medical-benefits-of-cannabis
- quitting-weed-before-surgery
- quitting-weed-medication-interactions
- quitting-weed-pregnancy
- quitting-weed-pregnant
- seniors-older-adults-cannabis-risks-medications
- weed-breastfeeding-THC-breast-milk
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-00453APA
Smith, Paul F. (2010). New approaches in the management of spasticity in multiple sclerosis patients: role of cannabinoids.. Therapeutics and clinical risk management, 6, 59-63.
MLA
Smith, Paul F. "New approaches in the management of spasticity in multiple sclerosis patients: role of cannabinoids.." Therapeutics and clinical risk management, 2010.
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "New approaches in the management of spasticity in multiple s..." RTHC-00453. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/smith-2010-new-approaches-in-the
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.